Summertime Cleaning

WORDS:: Chyka Keebaugh

PHOTOS:: Lisa Atkinson + Natalie Jeffcott

Lazy days in January call for a little sprucing up around the home…

The new year should always begin with a fresh start. With spring so far away it’s the perfect time to get in a little reorganising. Simple refreshers like a good pantry clean out, getting rid of all of those unwanted clothes and a good garden refresh can be done over a few days to get your home all cleaned out for a productive new year. So let’s start indoors, shall we?

Organise your wardrobe like a professional

My wardrobe is a little out of control.But, you know what? I wear nearly everything that is in there. And more than once! I love clothes, I love fashion and seeing as I have a whole room dedicated to it you have probably now worked out I am pretty serious when it comes to keeping it organised. Culling your wardrobe can be one of the most time-consuming jobs. There are always items you love that don't fit you - get them tailored or get rid of them, pieces that never fit perfectly - get rid of them, articles in need of hemming/darning/adding a button to - get it fixed. Little things that make items unwearable should be dealt with straight away.

The Lemon is the quiet achiever of the fruit world. Not only do I love adding to my cooking and drinks, but cleaning with it is a homegrown dream. Growing all year round, unlike most fruits, lemons can be squeezed drunk, boiled, grated, sliced, diced and candied. But did you also know that lemons are a mild disinfectant? With a little squeeze of lemon, you can fight off lots of dirt, grime and bacteria.

Eight ways to clean your home with lemons

Pop half a lemon in your dishwasher cutlery drawer - the acidity in the lemon cuts through grease.

Get your microwave extra clean by placing lemon slices in some vinegar infused water, microwave on high for two minutes then wipe out.

To refresh your fridge dab lemon juice onto a cotton ball and leave it in your fridge for several hours. This will help remove any unwanted odours in your fridge.

Prevent cauliflower and avocados from browning by squeezing several drops of lemon juice on them.

Refresh your lemon board with a cut side of half a lemon.

To help keep insects out of your kitchen squeeze lemon in between holes and cracks (e.g. tile grout) to deter the creepy crawlies.

For a more powerful clothes wash, add half a cup of lemon juice to your washing.

Lemon juice mixed with salt is the perfect cleaner for copper items.

Get outside and clean those windows!

Once I year I splurge on a professional clean, and in-between that I just have to do the job myself. Because there is nothing worse than staring through a dirty window, I drag myself out there at least once a month to get the job done, but being a cheat and only washing the ones that I really have to! I have made my way through a fair share of commercial window cleaners and always come back to the home made solution. It’s easy, and affordable to make, and anything you can keep it in a cute spray bottle is always a selling point for me!

What you'll need...

2 cups of water (bubbly is best as it won’t leave a residue)

Two tablespoons vinegar

Two tablespoons of methylated spirits

10 drops essential oil of choice- I use eucalyptus because it’s easy to get, I also like tea tree.

Method

Simply combine all the ingredients in a spray bottle and use as needed. A micro fibre cloth or newspaper is best to use; it won’t leave it’s thread behind, and you’ll get less streaking.